Page 46 of The Tribrid Princess and the Taste of Chaos (The Rossi Legacies #7)

Jayce

A n hour has passed, and she’s just finished telling me about her dreams.

“So, you’ve been having this dream repeatedly for a while, where you’re following someone, and you see a temple that has this symbol. And you decided to dream walk to change the way it plays out, so you cast a spell and managed to enter the temple?” I sum up what she’s told me.

She nods. “I just… I know the dreams aren’t dangerous. I just don’t want Mama or Aunty to get upset or worried.”

“You keep a lot of secrets, Darling. That might come back to bite you,” I remark. I’m lying down on the bed, my arm behind my head. She’s sitting next to me, legs crossed, fiddling with the sleeves of her long-sleeved top, looking fucking gorgeous.

“I guess I do.” She shrugs with a pout.

I exhale and close my eyes for a moment before opening them and looking over at her. “Well, you told Leo what was most important. Since we kind of know where the temple is now, I guess the dreams will stop by themselves. If they continue, let us know, though.”

She nods now, tilting her head as she observes me. “How are you feeling?” she asks softly as she reaches over, tracing her finger over my scar, before leaning closer and kissing my nose tenderly, her breasts pressing against me.

Fuck, I’m trying not to pay attention to them, and she’s already in dangerous territory. I wrap my arms around her waist, my fingers brushing the bare skin of her lower back.

Her heart pounds before she moves back slightly and looks into my eyes, her breasts now pressed against my arm. My eyes rake over them. Fuck, she’s always so goddamn irresistible.

My gaze dips to her lips as I lift my head, and she closes the remainder of the gap.

Our lips collide in a delicious kiss that sends pleasure through me.

Her entire body leans into me, her heart galloping as I gently pull her to lie next to me.

My lips never leave hers. Her hand runs over my bicep as her tongue flicks across my lips, and I grant her access, devouring her.

I run my hand over her back and over her ass, lifting her thigh and hooking it over mine as I press into her. She whimpers against me, and I break away from her sexy, plush lips and trail kisses down her neck.

“Jayce… Gods…” she whispers in between salacious moans. Her hand slips down from my arm, raking down my chest before she wraps her hand around my dick, stroking it slowly. I fucking harden in her hand, making me groan ever so low.

Fuck…

I throb hard, and it’s now or never. I gently take her wrist and tug her away. “What’s wrong, getting too much?” she giggles in my ear, a hint of playful amusement in her voice.

“You know it is, and I’m not about to fuck you in this place.”

She blushes as she lies down beside me instead and drapes her arm around my waist, her leg still hooked over mine. “There’s nothing wrong with this place, but you’re right. It’s Uncle Leo’s place. That means there’s probably some cameras hidden around here.”

I glance around. “I fucking hope not, but if there is, he’ll be the one wishing he didn’t see anything,” I smirk as I brush her curls off her face.

She smiles. “Definitely true… So, are we going to Egypt?”

“I guess so, but we’ve got to be careful. If that man really came for that reason, I assume then it could all just be a trap, but at the same time, we do need to get the answers. And I don’t know if you will be included in that.”

She shakes her head. “Oh, I’m going. Maybe Dante can come with us.”

“Maybe.” I frown. “But what happened? I think going forward, we need to be armed with weapons and always be ready for an attack.”

“We already are. Can you imagine it getting stricter? There won’t be moments of happiness, just the ever reminder of war…”

“I know, and it’s the only thing keeping us sane.

Even if we’re always on the edge, ready for danger, that’s not the kind of life anyone wants, but with each passing day, it seems like we need to take it into consideration.

To always be suited up, weapons at our side and ready to kill if the need arises, or we might just end up dead. ”

“That sounds grim, and I know it’s the future we’re heading towards.” She sighs, resting her forehead against my chest. Her heart is thumping, and she’s afraid, afraid and worried.

I frown slightly. I’m able to pinpoint emotions even quicker now, with even more precision, almost to the point of feeling like I can sense even the subtlest of emotions.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t help with the translation, but I think I can help you with the location of the temple? Riddles and prophecies are my thing.”

“Sounds good, and don’t apologise for something you had no control over…” I trail off, my smirk fading as I remember how fucking useless I was out there.

“Remember what you just said? You had no control over how powerful that man was. Really, we need to stop calling him ‘that man’. Let’s give him a name.”

I look down at her - cocking a brow, but she’s serious. “Sure thing, your mom has interesting nicknames. You got any of that talent?” I ask.

She shakes her head. “No, I’m not that creative, but how about ‘The Monster’?”

“Yeah, you’re right, you’re not that creative.”

Her eyes fly open. “Jayce!” She smacks my waist lightly. “Meanie.”

I chuckle slightly. “But really, that’s a dead name.”

“Ass…” she mutters.

I smirk, kissing her forehead lightly, still very aware of my dick that’s still hard as I try to keep it from pressing against her. “X or Z maybe?” I suggest.

“Like an experiment, Project X, Agent X; why does he get to have a cool name?” She frowns in displeasure.

“Yeah, it’s lame. How about we leave it to someone else to find a name for him? We’re both fucking terrible at it.”

She laughs, covering her mouth. “You’re right.”

“So, it’s your birthday… tomorrow.” I glance at the time. It’s past midnight.

She nods. “Yeah, I wonder if I’ll have a wolf,” she muses.

“You do,” I reply with complete confidence that even I don’t know where it came from.

She smiles softly. “Really? Is that your intuition telling you?”

“I guess so. I’m coming out with more random shit than normal. But really, I think you do have a wolf.”

“I hope so…” She fiddles with the charm bracelet she always wears. I wonder if it holds some importance to her.

“That bracelet, you wear it all the time. Does it have some significance?”

She nods, her eyes saddened as she looks at it. “My dad gave it to me.” Her eyes sting, and I wrap my arms around her, kissing her shoulder.

“Sorry for asking.”

“No, it’s fine, but I wear it all the time. I always will.”

“Just be careful you don’t ruin it when shifting tomorrow.”

She smiles. “It kind of just pops off if the magnet is pulled apart, so it won’t break, but I’ve never taken it off. I guess with shifting, I’ll have to take it off to keep it safe.”

“Makes sense. He’d be proud of you,” I say, remembering the cruel words I had said to her to get a reaction. “And I’m sorry again for hurting you with my words back then. I was hoping I could ask you at the end of the date if you forgive me, but-”

“I forgive you. I know what you were doing, even if it made me mad. Stop apologising, just… keep treating me right, and I’ll be fine.” She cups my neck, tugging me down, and kisses me softly.

“I will, I promise you. Now sleep. It’s been a long fucking night.”

She nods, sighing softly. “Yeah, you’re right, it has. You must be exhausted, too.”

I am. I’m healed, but the exhaustion is still there. “A little. Night…” I murmur.

“Night, night,” she whispers as I prop myself up on my elbow and pull the bed sheet over both of us.

Now to actually sleep or try to when I’m fucking hard.

She stretches, yawning softly, before she snuggles into me without a care in the world and falls asleep.

The next day was a blur; we were awoken by Azura bringing breakfast. She’s fucking nosy.

It was barely 7. She scoffed at me – shocked that nothing happened, since Sienna blurted that fact out – before trying to grill us for all the little details.

I told her nothing, but Sienna gave her some answers.

Women.

Then we had another meeting with Leo, where we discussed a visit to Egypt once we pinpoint an area where the temple could be.

After that, we were escorted back to the Academy, where the staff was already aware of what had happened, and I was notified that a High Witch would come to read my damn mind in the next few days at some point.

I now sit in class, ignoring the whispers and the stares surrounding my new scar as I ponder over everything that happened. I wonder where Matherson found the book. Could it really have been a coincidence?

I have never felt anything to doubt Matherson, but when it comes to this book, I don’t think anything is just luck anymore, especially considering my own in-depth search for the symbol.

I have read so many books, sifted through so many and asked those around me with zero luck.

“…wood?”

I look up to see Matherson looking at me with concern. “Sorry, sir,” I say, sitting forward.

He nods grimly. “Are you alright?”

“Yeah.” I nod.

He sighs. “Good, I was asking you what you think Division Two did wrong when fighting against these rogues a week ago.”

I look at the digital map.

“They spread out too thinly, giving the rogues greater freedom to manoeuvre. In doing so, they left critical blind spots exposed, making them vulnerable to surprise attacks from behind.

Although they were outnumbered, if they had held their position and fought from a single, unified point, they could have overwhelmed the enemy more quickly.

Additionally, staying closer together would have allowed them to support each other more efficiently when a teammate needed assistance,” I reply without missing a beat.

But sometimes the enemy comes so fast you can’t even think straight.

“So, since you’re enjoying mocking our division, tell us about your scar? What’s the story behind that?” I glance over at the senior who is part of the Second Division and cock a brow.

“Let’s just say, if he wanted me dead, I would have been.”

A tense silence floods the room. No one was expecting me to say that. Everyone knows how strong I am, but they can see I’m not lying.

“Someone that much stronger than you?” Allison whispers from somewhere close by.

I ignore her. I can sense Sienna watching me, but I don’t turn to her, not when all eyes are on me right now.

“Someone strong enough to knock a Westwood on his ass!” Valerian whistles.

“Someone strong enough to kill us all,” Carter cuts in, his voice cold. “And if Jayce didn’t have a chance, then… just let that sink in.”

“Alright, everyone, calm down, let’s get back to the lesson,” Matherson calls, trying to defuse the growing tension. No one argues, but a ripple of unease remains in a now much quieter hall.

The bell has just rang, and everyone grabs their stuff and heads out. I hold back, wanting a word with Matherson himself.

“All ok there, son?” he asks me, concerned.

I nod. “Yeah, I just want to know where you found the book that you had given me,” I ask.

He looks at me in surprise, as if not expecting that question. “Oh, it was in one of the piles of books that were not translatable.” That’s the truth…

“And what made you look in those books?” I ask.

He smiles slightly, folding up some larger maps.

“Well, you really wanted some answers, and I know how many hours you spent searching in the library. I didn’t think there was any harm in checking that pile.

It was sitting in my office for far too long anyway…

” He looks confused for a moment, but he’s telling the truth.

Am I being paranoid? “I guess it was good you were given the pile to organise then,” I remark, trying to press for a little more without making it obvious.

He nods. “Yes, it’s been far too long because I don’t even remember who told me to sort those. Shows I don’t like the job!” He chuckles.

He’s telling the truth, but his confusion… Did someone plant the book in his office, knowing it would make its way to me? And if yes… who?

And also, why the fuck did they steal it back if they just wanted me to translate it, anyway?

“Jayce, is everything all right?” Matherson asks.

I smile smoothly, masking my emotions and nod. “Absolutely.”

“Good, good, then take care of yourself. We need you. Don’t go getting hurt like that again.”

“I won’t,” I answer before I take my leave.

Someone in this Academy is an enemy… but who?